Freshwater Lures

Largemouth Bass Fishing would have to be the premiere freshwater sport in the United States and a sport which drives a multi billion dollar freshwater bait, tackle and fishing gear industry in America alone.

Being helped along with the likes of Alton Jones and Kevin VanDam and many other bass fishing pros the sport has gone from strength to strength with bass champions earning some serious money and lucrative sponsorship from being the best of the best at this great sport.


So what are some vital tips to help any serious bass fisherman become successful at local tournaments and have the chance to go pro.




Great tips for anyone looking to compete in bass fishing tournaments.


Know your bass during winter.

Bass of course are cold blooded creatures, so when the water temperature drops their metabolism slows and they tend not to eat so much. Therefore during the winter when the water is much colder, its best to use smaller baits with more subtle colors.

Bass also usually stay around shallower water during the colder months, during the winter deep water holds less oxygen so bass will keep in shallower water not more than 10 feet deep where there is still a good amount of oxygen to keep them comfortable.

Bass are very sensitive to temperature and weather changes and are very attuned to the environment, they tend to sense when there is an oncoming cold front and will often go on a feeding frenzy to stock up on energy before a cold front arrives.


Where to find trophy bass

As with any freshwater predator fish, fishing around structure and cover is a good start though its really good to fish close to or amongst good healthy areas of vegetation. Aquatic plant life provide ample sources of oxygen, shade, and food for bass to survive as well as providing perfect cover to ambush prey as well as hide from predators.

The perfect place to fish at the edges of deep water vegetation, its where where bass are at their most confident. Another great tip is to fish along the edges of banks where trees overhang on a sunny day, the shade provided by the trees make a perfect hangout for local bass.


Find your trophy bass anytime of the day

In the early hours of the morning and late in the day you will find bass in shallow waters where they look for their morning meal to start the day and search for their dinner before bedding down for the night. During the middle of the day when the sun is at its brightest bass will seek deeper water where things are much darker as the bright midday sun has trouble penetrating deeper water.

During the middle of the day its these deeper areas where you want to concentrate your efforts and where freshwater lures such as well weighted worms and deep diving crankbaits come into their own. During this hotter part of the day you want to work the deep water edges and the transit zones between deep and shallow water.



Know what freshwater fishing lures to use.

Bass will strike on a wide variety of baits and lures although in cooler temperatures when bass are less active jigs with a good trailer are a good option. Just like with any freshwater lures use lighter jigs with a lighter color in clearer waters and heavier jigs and darker colors in heavily colored or stained waters, a 3/8 to 5/8 weight range should have you covered.

When fishing during the bass's preferred feeding times, its a great idea to try and match the color of your freshwater lures to the color of the baitfish and the bottom dwelling animals in the area. If a certain color very familiar to a local bass and the bass associates that color to its usual food, there's a much greater chance that it will strike at that color.

Only use a rod that you feel comfortable whith fishing, confidence is everything in bass fishing and anything that takes away from your confidence is 'poison'. Many people prefer lighter rods while some people prefer heavier rods, though the general rule of thumb is try to stick with the lightest rod you feel comfortable using. Although if your fishing around thick cover or weeds you might want to opt for a slightly heavier rods to give you more leverage and control to maneuver fish away from obstacles.


Keep a fishing log

At the and of every fishing day you want to take away as much from the days experience as you can. Documenting your actions, habits and the days events is a great way analyze your performance and will help you identify the things you are doing right, things you may be doing wrong, what areas of your fishing you need to improve on and what you can do to become better at this fantastic and highly rewarding sport.


Maintain enjoyment

For anyone to excel at anything it is essential that they enjoy it, though there is always the risk that no matter how much you enjoy something if you do it too often things become a chore and you lose the joy and enthusiasm.

If this happens it doesn't hurt to step back, take a deep breath and take some time off. Don't worry there will still be plenty of fish to catch when you get back on the water!

Have fun, tight lines and be sure to click on the links at the top of this page to check out the latest sale items at Bass Pro Shops!